ABriefAnalysisofItsInfluenceontheYouth’sValue
2018-01-09尤逸伦
【Abstract】This article is trying to look back what is MARVEL trying to give out after it gained a great success in a world wide.It actually analysis the features of MARVEL series,and the worth of while behind it and the change of it as time goes on.
【Key Words】 MARVEL; influence; heroism; anti-heroism;culture
【作者簡介】尤逸伦,成都实验外国语学校。
The most popular movie series among the world are MARVEL series. In recent ten years, MARVEL has gained a great success in the box office----more than 16billion dollars,in which Chinese audiences have contributed a lot. And it has also gained 4 seats in the top 10 box office according to the statistics until August 2018.The latest movie The Avengers 3 grabbed the 4th place,and was caught on for a while.
So what makes MARVEL a hit? The dazzling special effect? The exciting drama? Sure.Some value behind the movie that makes it to be accepted by such a lot people from all over the world.Although the critics has pointed out a lot problems in the worth of while. And it was concerned by all over the world.It is undeniable that there is something fascinating in it. What more, it keeps changing from now and then.
Unexpected by many people, MARVEL has a long history.The story of superheros can be traced back to 1939, the first superhero Namor is even earlier than MARVEL itself. Figures, like Captain America; Human Torch, brought traditional super heroism to MARVEL. Because during the World War II most of the cartoonists used their pen as a weapon to fight against Fascist so these figures with super heroism were created.They are fearless, patriotic, selfless, fighting for their country and their people.The audience widely accept these figures. As time pass by, figures like Captain America became out-of-date, but these spirits never leave MARVEL for long.These spirits can be summarized in two aspects.
First, super heroism is obviously the frequent theme in MARVEL film.‘With great power comes with great responsibility.This is my gift ,my curse.This quote from Spider Man has been widely regarded as a motto of all superheroes. In the beginning, almost every superhero has no intention to save the world.Spider man wanted to make money, Iron man wanted to make use of a new weapon.Hulk just wanted to destroy everything,even Captain American was just a weak soldier who was eager to prove himself .But all of them chose to stand out when their country, people needed their help and became a superhero. Teenagers all over the world are excited that an ordinary person can be a superhero, thus they believe they will become a superhero someday with some talents.And when the day is coming, they will certainly make use of their talent to protect the world ,protect someone they love.Adolescent boys from all over the world have something in common that they are eager to be a superhero, which contributes to MARVELs success,because MARVEL act out what they love.
Secondly,the spirit of solidarity is the other important theme of MARVEL movie. Take The Avengers series for example,the spirit of solidarity is the most positive clue. At first, avengers are just a team full of every kind of hero,the disunity made heroes quarrelsome and weak. In the second set, this theme is more obvious:When Captain America through out his shield and called out ‘TOGETHER, few people can keep calm under this atmosphere.MARVEL movie is not just trying to highlight individualism, simple traditional super heroism. They also emphasize the team work.
In addition to super heroism and solidarity, MARVEL has something different during the 1960s.In that period, American dream was called on.But the economic depression and the social problem smashed the hope of people.Somebody was doubting the truth of American dream--everyone can make a success by his own effort.Thus Americans began to wake up from the dream.So MARVEL film came with another feature ---realistic.Most stories took place in the city, the sets were often lifelike.Whats more,superheros were more realistic in that period,some of them were easy to get frustrated, some of them liked to speak dirty words, which make them very humane .
Anyway,when the audience are familiar with or even tired of these features, MARVEL is trying make a change in recent years.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Dead Pool... fall into anti-superhero movie, in which heroes have a casual attitude toward life,not behaving well, but they save the world dramatically in the end. Dead Pool got a lot cheaper cost than that of the superhero movie, but it gained a even better comment.Youth from all over the world are becoming unsatisfied about the similar courage. They dont need these films to encourage themselves,but to cheer themselves up actually.These thoughts make it fashionable that superheros speak meaningless joke .
With all these films thriving, MARVEL has influenced the world deeply.MARVEL also left some bad concept in the youth s mind.The violence in MARVEL has been criticized. Most of MARVEL films are graded in PG-13 or R. Dead Pool is famous for its bloody sight and slang. Some of the words may mislead youths growth. Superheros indifference to the death makes the youth get criminal psychic, which leads to the increase of the crime.
Whats more, the thing that is more widely concerned by the foreign countries is the America-centered feeling. America considers itself always right as if it has the rights to interfere other countries, as if it is surely a messenger of god who promotes good and eliminates evil so that it can turn against other governments in the name of human rights and freedom. MARVEL works advocate America-centered feeling that the American government is strong, advanced, humanitarian.The Avengers basically take orders from American government,and countries which dont like America will not get a peaceful end.In The Avengers2, people who are hostile to America eventually cry for Americas help.In the end,its still Americans who save the world.
However, in the foreseeable future, MARVEL will continue to be popular. When we are attracted by the dazzling scenes and gripping plots, we should be on guard to the influence of MARVEL. Some critics believe that MARVEL is doing what American has done yesterday.When America was trying to fight against Soviet Union in Cold War, it tried its best to play the movie in every ‘Middle Zone.The clear purpose was to spread American values which might dominate traditional values of other country. In the terms of values expressed in MARVEL, we should adopt critical attitude toward them, accepting the positive part from the foreign culture and getting rid of the negative part. Whenever traditional values of native country should be in the first place.
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